NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 5 – Over 50 Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from Kenya’s leading companies gathered in Nairobi for a roundtable hosted by HR software firm SeamlessHR, where they explored strategies for accelerating digital transformation in the face of growing market disruptions.
Held at the Pullman Hotel, the event brought together senior tech leaders from sectors including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing to discuss the evolving role of CIOs as business enablers—not just system custodians.
With the theme “CIOs at the Forefront: Accelerating Enterprise Transformation and Performance,” the session focused on moving away from legacy systems and siloed operations toward integrated, data-driven platforms that can support faster decision-making and long-term competitiveness.
Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Ambassador Philip Thigo, opened the session with a call to action, urging CIOs to align business innovation with national digital goals.
“We’re entering a critical phase in Kenya’s digital journey, one where CIOs must step up as shapers of economic progress,” said Thigo.
SeamlessHR Co-founder and CTO Deji Lana stressed the need for clarity and interoperability in digital systems, saying, “Technology should clarify, not complicate. The edge for today’s CIO lies in enabling faster, data-backed decisions.”
A panel discussion featuring Car & General’s Gilbert Mutai, VisionFund International’s Jacinta Kamemba, Avenue Healthcare’s Geoffrey Gitagia, SeamlessHR’s MK Balaji and Deji Lana, highlighted the shift in CIO roles—from IT management to driving innovation and growth.
“The role of a CIO is no longer just to keep systems running,” said Balaji. “It’s to lead transformation and build platforms that anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.”
The roundtable closed with a consensus: CIOs are now central to shaping business strategy and ensuring enterprise agility in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
